BackgroundMale infertility has largely idiopathic, multifactorial origin. Oxidative stress is a major factor that affects spermatogenesis, in particular in aging. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CNPs) due to their antioxidative properties are promising to impact on the development of male infertility. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of CNPs on fertility parameters in 24-month male rats and to overview relevant literature in the field of personalized treatments, predictive diagnosis, and preventive measures for male health and fertility.MethodsWe included 30 24-month-old male rats. After a week of adaptation to the standard diet, the rats were randomly divided into three groups with ten rats in each. Group 1 (controls) received only a standard diet. The rats of group 2 and 3 in adjunct to the standard diet during 10 days received intragastrically 10 % sodium citrate and citrate-coated CNPs in dose 1 mg/kg, respectively. We assessed sex hormones, epididymal sperm parameters and spermatogenesis, ultrasound, and morphological data of rat reproductive organs.ResultsAfter a 10-day administration of CNPs, we revealed significant decrease of lipid peroxidation product levels in serum and increase of catalase and SOD activity, associated with increase of sperm count (p < 0.001) and improvement in quantitative sperm parameters (motility, viability, and percentage of spermatozoa). We found no significant changes between sperm quantitative parameters in citrate-treated rats and controls and observed age-related decrease of activated Leydig cell number and focal atrophy of the seminiferous tubules. In CNP group, we observed regeneration of seminiferous tubules, increase number and activation of Leydig cells, and 2.5-fold significant increase of serum testosterone. Ultrasound data showed the slight increase of linear measurement and volume of rat testes in CNP group. Review highlights the benefits for predictive diagnosis, preventive measures, and personalized approaches to manage male infertility in the general concept of male health also related to aging.ConclusionCitrate-coated 2–5-nm CNPs lead to increase in sex hormones levels, sperm count, and quality, as well as the activation of spermatogenesis in 24-month-old male rats. Nanoceria demonstrated the perspectives to be an effective infertility treatment via reduction of oxidative stress in male reproductive organs, in particular in aging.

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BackgroundGhrelin is a hormone produced mainly by the cells lining the fundus of the stomach, which is involved in regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. Two major forms of ghrelin can be found in circulation: an acylated form, and non-acylated form. Serum acyl-ghrelin (AG) concentration is significantly increased in patients with visceral obesity and insulin resistance. This study was conducted to evaluate changes in serum AG levels, its diagnostic accuracy and association with NAFLD in patients with type two diabetes (T2D).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 91 T2D patients, age of 40–80 years, were included. All patients were divided into 3 groups. The control group included 28 T2D patients without NAFLD. The main group included 63 T2D patients with NAFLD, which was divided in 2 subgroups depending on transaminase levels: normal (n = 37) and elevated (n = 26) transaminases group. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of AG for NAFLD we used ROC-analysis.ResultsWe observed 1.5 (p = 0.016) and 2.5 (p < 0.001) fold increasing of serum AG levels in patients with NAFLD and normal or elevated transaminases compared to control groups. In multivariate logistic regression analysis high AG level was an independent, from transaminases activity, triglycerides (OR 1.791; 95 % CI 1.162–2.759; p = 0.008) and degree of IR (OR 1.599; 95 % CI 1.019–2.508; p = 0.044) predictor that associated with NAFLD. When serum AG used as non-invasive marker for NAFLD detection AUROC was 0.835 (95 % CI 0.752–0.918, p < 0.001). The cut-off value was >0.52 ng/ml, with sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV – 60.3 %, 92.8 %, 95.0 %, 50.9 % respectively. For distinguishing patients with NAFLD and elevated transaminases from patients with NAFLD and normal values AG was less effective.ConclusionsOur study has demonstrated that elevated AG level were associated with NAFLD. Patients with elevated transaminases had significantly higher AG levels. An increase of AG over 0.52 ng/ml can be used as a diagnostic marker for NAFLD detection in patients with T2D.

BackgroundOne of the pathogenic mechanisms of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which in turn aggravates the disease progress. We have investigated novel cerium dioxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) due to their promising antioxidant auto-regenerative ability and low toxicity.Methods30 white male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control, monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity and MSG treated with nCeO2 (MSG+nCeO2) groups. Newborn rats of control group were injected with saline (control). MSG− and MSG+nCeO2 groups were injected with MSG (4 mg/g concentration, 8 μl/g volume) between the 2nd and the 10th days of life subcutaneously [13]. At the age of 1 month, rats of group II were administered water 2.9 ml/kg orally, MSG+nCeO2 group received 1 mM solution of nCeO2 1 mg/kg orally. 4-months rats were sacrificed and the liver was harvested for histological and biochemical analysis. To assess the morphological changes in the liver we used NAS (NAFLD activity score). The content of lipid peroxidation products and enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in the liver were studied by standard biochemical methods [Refs].ResultsIn 4-month rats we found significantly lower total score (1.3±0.26 vs 3.6±0.34, p<0.001), degree of steatosis (1.1±0.18 vs 2.1±0.18, p<0.001), manifestation of lobular inflammation (0.2±0.13 vs 1.2±0.2, p<0.001) and ballooning degeneration (0.0±0.0 vs 0.3±0.15, p=0.034) due to NAS in the nCeO2 group compared to the MSG-group. nCeO2 significantly decreased lipid peroxidation in the liver tissue, namely it reduced the conjugated dienes content by 27% (p<0.05), TBA-products – by 43% (p<0.05) and Schiff bases – by 21% (p<0.05).ConclusionsDue to its antioxidant properties nCeO2 significantly reduces the incidence of NASH and improves the main NAFLD histological features.

Today probiotics have been suggested as a treatment for the prevention of NAFLD. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may have beneficial effects in regulating hepatic lipid metabolism, adipose tissue function and inflammation. The present study was designed to determine whether probiotics plus omega-3 are superior to probiotics alone on the monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced NAFLD model in rats. We included 60 rats divided into four groups, 15 animals in each. Rats of group I were intact. Newborn rats of groups II-IV were injected with MSG. The III (Symbiter) group received 2.5 ml/kg of multiprobiotic "Symbiter" containing concentrated biomass of 14 probiotic bacteria genera. The IV (Symbiter-Omega) groups received "Symbiter-Omega" combination of probiotic biomass supplemented with flax and wheat germ oil (250 mg of each, concentration of omega-3 fatty acids 1-5 %). In both interventional groups reduction in total NAS score was observed. Supplementation of alive probiotic mixture with omega-3 fatty acids lead to 20 % higher decrease in steatosis score (0.73 ± 0.11 vs 0.93 ± 0.22, p = 0.848) and reduction by 16.6 % of triglycerides content in liver as compared to probiotic alone. Our study demonstrated more pronounced reduction in hepatic steatosis and hepatic lipid accumulation after treatment with combination of alive probiotics and omega-3 as compared to probiotics alone.